Improvement in life-boats



G. B. BERRELL.

Life-Boat.

No. 223,025. Patented Dec. 30, I879.

inventor:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. BERRELL, OF ABINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,025, dated December 30, 1879 5 application filed July 30, 1879. 1

, gomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and valuable Improvements in Life-Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the anneXed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in spherical life-boats, as

will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

' Figure 1 1s a transverse vertical section through center of the boat. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the air and water pumping apparatus.

. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through Fig. 2, on line 0 0.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate my invention.

The life-boat is constructed in spherical form, of two semi-spherical shells-a top one,

A, and a bottom one, B-said two shells being of any suitable material such as iron, wood and iron combined, or wood, iron, and canvas com bined,the two shellsAandBbein g united at a bya flanged and bolted joint suitably packed to render water-tight. The bottom half of the boat is provided with a keel, O, rudder D, and propeller E. In the top of the upper half, A, is inserted a circular plat-form, F, having a guardrail, b, securely fastened around outer edge of same. In this platform F are two rabbeted doors, G and G, one within the other, the inner one being of glass, for the purpose of ,admitting light. The larger door G is hinged to the platform F, while the smaller or inside glass door, G, is hinged to the larger door G. Both of these doors are provided with suitable water'tight packing and fastenings. Through an aperture near the outer edge of the platform F is placed a ventilating and smoke stack, X, provided with a flaring outlet. This stack projects a suitable distance downward into the shell A to admit reaching its lower end from the inside of the boat. Running up through center of this stack is a valveadjusting rod, 00, passing through and kept in central position by a series of guides, 00. At

the upper end of this rod or is placed a convex valve or cap, X, suitably stayed and braced. At the lowerpnd the rod is bent at right angle, passing out through the side of the stack through an aperture, Z, of such shape as to admit the locking in position of the rod 0: when either pushed up to open top of stack (for ventilation or smoke-egress) or lowered to close top of same water and air tight. Through another aperture in the side of shell, just below the platform F, is placed an automatic airvalve, for use in stormy weather or when a high-running sea would prevent the use of either the stack X or door G. This automatic air-valve Y is in elbow shape, and is provided at its outer end with'a self-acting flat valve, Y, suitably packed, which is actuated by the rolling and pitching of the boat. At about onethird the length from the inner end is placed a dam or check, y, to .prevent water from making its way into the boat.

In the bottom of the lower shell, 13, is secured a circular metallic floor or disk, H, which is made solid, or to fit the bottom of the shell, forming a solid bed'plate for the propelling and pumping mechanism, and with same making sufficient ballast to properly steady the boat. Upon this bed and ballast plate or disk H is placed a frame, I, of suitable construction to contain the propelling and pumping mechanism hereinafter described. On one of its sides this frame I is hinged to the upper ends of two arms, J J, the lower ends of which arms are similarly secured to the bedplate H, which hinging admits of the entire frameI being laid over on its side directly in the center of the bed-plate, thereby lowering the ballast and placing same in a more desirable position when not in use for propelling or pumping out water or in air. At the side opposite to the hinged side is placed a seat, S, hinged to the frame I, which, when in use, is supported by a hookstandard, w. The frame I and seat S are easily raised to a working position, and held in such position by one or more buttons, 0, or other suitable hooking devices, the seat S being supported by the hooke standard to.

In the top of the frame I is a horizontal shaft, d, with a crank, L, at each end for rotating same. On this shaft is a bevel-gear, f,

meshing with a similar gear, f on the upper end of a vertical shaft, h, the lower end of which shaft is provided with two bevel-gears, or, if preferred, friction-wheels M. The lower surface of this double wheel is in contact with a small bevel-gear or friction-wheel, 43, located on the inner end of a shaft, 7a, which extends through the shell B to the outside of the boat, and has a propelling device, E, attached to it. The upper gear or section of friction-wheel M imparts motion, through another horizontal shaft, m, with suitable gears or friction-wheels, to a horizontal wheel, N, mounted on a short vertical shaft, n. This wheel N is a balance or fly wheel to steady the motion of the propeller-shaft when the mechanism is being operated to propel the boat.

On each side of and within the frame I is a double-acting force-pump, O, and a doubleacting suction-pump, O, (the former for forcing out leakagewater, and the latter for sucking air into the boat when, by reason of foul weather, the other ventilating apparatus cannot be used,) having flexible hose P extending through the top shell, A, as shown. The two plunger-rods of each set of pumps are connected to a pivoted beam, 1), having a central arm, 19, placed upon a crankshaft, s. This crankshaft is provided with a gear-wheel, t, toreceive its motion from a pinion, v, on the main shaft The pinion c is movable on the shaft d by means of a forked lever, B, allowing the pinion e to be thrown in and out of gear with the wheel t. This arrangement being located at either end, in connection with each set of pumps, one or both pumps can be used,- as desired, or all thrown out of gear when not needed.

When not using the propeller E, and it is necessary to use one or both sets of pumps, the propeller-driving mechanism is thrown out of action by slipping the bevel driving-gear f to the right on shaft 01, unmeshing it with the vertical-shaft gear f. Suitable means are provided for ingress and egress, connecting platform F with inside of the boat.

W W are seats arranged around the inside of the boat. Beneath these seats are a series of airtight lockers, Z Z, for containing a sup ply of provisions, water, and medicines, as well as nautical instruments and chart In the event of being cast adrift from a wreck in a cold latitude or in the winter sea son, a small stove, using wood or coal, can be connected with stack X, though, preferably, an oil-stove would be among the necessary outtit of the boat.

The necessities of nature are provided for by using a section of the lockerspace Z, in which spacewill be placed any suitable automatic marine closet working below the waterline. Y

I am aware that a spherical Water-tight safe without steering mechanisms. but containing vague suggestions of a propelling device, has heretofore been suggested, and to such I make no claim, as it would be impossible to use it for the purpose contemplated in this applica tion.

Having fully described my invention and its operation, what I desire to secure by Let ters Patent is--- 1. A spherical life-boat composed of two hemispherical parts connected by exterior flanges and secured together by bolts, and constructed with a ballastplate and keel, forming integral parts thereof said boat being provided with suitable propelling, steering, and ventilating mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

2. In a spherical life-boat, the frame I, containin g the propelling and pumping mechanism, and hinged to the bed and ballast plate H, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In a spherical life-boat, one or more double-acting force and suction Water and air pumps 0 and 0, with flexible piping P, arranged in the frame I, and operating substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE BARTON BERRELL.

Witnesses:

PETER RI'rTENHoUsE, GEORGE BISHOP. 

